Chapter Two

Chapter Two:

The Prophet’s Behavior towards the People of the Book
41) Main target of the Prophet (PBUH) was inviting non-Muslims to Islam:
Text of the Hadīth (Sahīh Al-Bukhāri 2942):  
Sahl ibn Sa‘d (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: “I heard the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) say on the day of Khaybar: ‘I shall give the banner to a man at whose hands Allah will grant us victory.’ They got up, eager to know to whom the banner will be given, and every one of them wished to be the one to receive it. The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) then asked for ‘Ali. He was informed that ‘Ali was suffering some trouble in his eyes. So, he ordered them to bring ‘Ali and he spat in his eyes and his eyes were cured immediately as if nothing was wrong with them from the beginning. ‘Ali said: ‘Should we fight them till they become like us (i.e. Muslims)?’ The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) replied: ‘Be patient. When you reach them, invite them to Islam and inform them of what Allah has enjoined upon them. By Allah, if a single person embraces Islam because of you, that will be better for you than the red camels (i.e. the most precious possessions).’”

Behavior of the Prophet (PBUH) indicated in the Hadīth:
1.    His keenness to spread Islam everywhere and to invite non-Muslims to Islam.
2.    His specifying the goal of his mission, which is inviting non-Muslims to Islam, or fighting them if they refuse.
3.    His spreading the teachings of Islam among non-Muslims along with clarifying what is enjoined upon them, and providing them with irrefutable proof.
4.    His encouraging people to call others to Allah and to be keen on guiding non-Muslims to Islam by informing them of the great reward one could attain when one single person embraces Islam because of him.

Benefits:
1.    One of the miracles of the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) is when he spat in ‘Ali’s sore eyes and they were immediately and totally cured.
2.    Another one of his miracles is when he informed his Companions that Allah would grant them victory through that leader before telling them who that leader was.
3.    Eagerness of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) to win this great status, i.e. the love of Allah and His Messenger, and their willingness to sacrifice their lives in the cause of Allah.

42) The Prophet (PBUH) using an evidential approach with the Jews:
Text of the Hadīth (Sahīh Al-Bukhāri 3329):
Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported:
“When the news of the Prophet’s arrival at Madinah reached ‘Abdullah ibn Salām (a Jewish rabbi), he went to him and said: ‘I will ask you about three things which only a prophet can know: What is the first sign of the Hour? What is the first food which the people of Paradise will eat? What makes a child resemble his father or resemble his maternal uncles?’ The Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: ‘Jibrīl (Gabriel) has just informed me of that.’ ‘Abdullah said: ‘That (meaning Gabriel) is the enemy of the Jews from among the angels.’ The Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: ‘As for the first sign of the Hour, it will be a fire that will gather people from the East to the West. As for the first meal which the people of Paradise will eat, it will be the caudate (extra) lobe of the fish liver. As for the child, when a man has sexual intercourse with a woman, if his water (semen) precedes hers, the child resembles him, and if her water precedes his, the child resembles her.’ On this, ‘Abdullah ibn Salām said: ‘I bear witness that you are the Messenger of Allah.’ He added: ‘O Messenger of Allah, the Jews are liars, if they know about my conversion to Islam, they will tell you lies about me.’ The Jews then came and ‘Abdullah went inside the house. The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: ‘What kind of man is ‘Abdullah ibn Salām among you?’ They said: ‘He is the most knowledgeable among us, and the son of the most knowledgeable among us, and he is the best among us, and the son of the best among us.’ The Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: ‘What if ‘Abdullah embraced Islam?’ They said: ‘May Allah save him from that.’ Thereupon, ‘Abdullah came out and said: ‘I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship but Allah and I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.’ The Jews, thus, said: ‘He is the most wicked among us and the son of the most wicked among us’ and they spoke badly of him.”

To be joined with:
Sahīh Al-Bukhāri 3911:
Anas ibn Mālik (may Allah be pleased with him) reported:
‘The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) arrived at Madinah while riding behind Abu Bakr...‘Abdullah ibn Salām heard the news of his arrival while he was picking dates for his family from their orchard. He hurried to the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) without wasting time to put down what he was collecting the dates in, so he came carrying it. He listened to the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) and then went home. The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: ‘Which of our people’s  houses is the nearest?’ Abu Ayyūb replied: ‘Mine, O Messenger of Allah. This is my house and this is my door.’ The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: ‘Then go and prepare a place for our midday rest.’ Abu Ayyūb said: ‘Get up (both of you) with Allah’s blessing.’ When the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) went into the house,  ‘Abdullah ibn Salām came and said: ‘I bear witness that you are the Messenger of Allah and that you have come with the truth. The Jews know well that I am their chief and the son of their chief and the most knowledgeable among them and the son of the most knowledgeable among them. So send for them and ask them about me before they know that I have embraced Islam, for if they know that, they will say about me things which are not true.’ The Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) sent for them,  and they came and entered.  He (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said to them: ‘O assembly of the Jews, woe to you! Fear Allah. By Allah, the One except Whom none has the right to be worshiped, you people know for certain that I am the Messenger of Allah and that I have come to you with the truth, so embrace Islam.’ The Jews replied: ‘We do not know this.’ They said this to the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) and he repeated it thrice. Then he said: ‘What kind of man is ‘Abdullah ibn Salām among you?’ They said: ‘He is our chief and the son of our chief, and the most learned among us and the son of the most learned among us.’ He said: ‘What if he embraced Islam?’ They said: ‘May Allah forbid, he would never embrace Islam.’ He said: ‘What if he embraced Islam?’ They said: ‘May Allah forbid, he would never embrace Islam.’ He said: ‘What if he embraced Islam?’ They said: ‘May Allah forbid, he would never embrace Islam.’ He said: ‘O Ibn Salām, come out.’ He came out and said: ‘O assembly of the Jews, fear Allah. By Allah, the One except Whom none has the right to be worshiped, you know for certain that he is the Messenger of Allah and that he has come with the truth.’ They said: ‘You are lying.’ On that, the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) turned them out.”

Behavior of the Prophet (PBUH) indicated in the Hadīth:
1.    His sitting with the Jews and listening to their questions.
2.    His patience with the Jews’ many questions without showing any annoyance.
3.    His kind treatment of all disbelievers, be they from the People of the Book or others.
4.    His using an evidential persuasive approach with his opponents.
5.    His inviting the Jews to embrace Islam and repeating that three times.
6.    His acceptance of the request of ‘Abdullah ibn Salām to hide from the Jews as a means of preaching Islam and providing irrefutable proof.
7.    His reminding the opponents of what they knew for certain in order to reconsider their situation.
8.    His repeating the confirmatory question to his opponents in order to convince them of his cause.
9.    His affirmation of Allah’s Oneness as the only deity worthy of worship through swearing by Allah and saying: “By Allah, the One except Whom none is worthy of worship...I am truly the Messenger of Allah.”

Benefits:
1.    True reliance of the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) upon Allah Almighty and resorting to Him through supplication, for He is the Protector.
2.    One of the miracles that indicate the truthfulness of his prophethood is that Allah honored him by making Jibrīl inform him of the answer.
3.    The Jews are characterized by obstinacy, arrogance, rejection of the truth, and following personal desires, despite the existence of proofs.

43) The Prophet (PBUH) inviting the Jews to Islam repeatedly:
Text of the Hadīth (Sahīh Al-Bukhāri 7348):  
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported:
“While we were in the mosque, the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) came out and said: ‘Let us go to the Jews.’  So we went out with him until we reached Bayt al-Midrās.  The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) stood there and called them saying: ‘O assembly of the Jews, embrace Islam and you will be safe.’ They said: ‘O Abu al-Qāsim, you have conveyed the message.’ The Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) then said: ‘That is what I want.  Embrace Islam and you will be safe.’ They said: ‘O Abu al-Qāsim, you have conveyed the message.’ He said: ‘That is what I want,’ and then he repeated it for the third time and added: ‘Know that the land is for Allah and His Messenger, and I intend to expel you from this land. So, if any of you has property (he cannot take away), he must sell it, otherwise you should know that the land belongs to Allah and His Messenger.’”

Behavior of the Prophet (PBUH) indicated in the Hadīth:
1.    His keenness to invite the Jews to Islam.
2.    His going personally with his Companions to invite the Jews to Islam.
3.    His making it clear to the Jews that embracing Islam would guarantee them safety and security, and they would not be expelled.
4.    His inviting people to Islam repeatedly so that his call would reach them all.
5.    His confirming that his message was conveyed to them and hearing them say it.
6.    His starting by inviting those Jews to Islam before informing them that he would expel them, which indicates his love for spreading the religion of Allah and that it was his primary objective.
7.    His gradual approach in dealing with the Jews. First, he invited them to embrace Islam. Then after they rejected, he informed them of his intention to expel them and confirmed that by saying that the land belongs to Allah and His Messenger.
8.    His giving the Jews a respite to sell their properties.

Benefits:
1.    Good manners of the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) with his Almighty Lord as he said: “The land belongs to Allah and His Messenger.”
2.    The Prophet’s kind treatment of his opponents.
3.    Working on applying the Shariah of Allah.

44) The Prophet (PBUH) visiting a Jewish boy who used to serve him:
Text of the Hadīth (Sahīh Al-Bukhāri 1356):  
Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported:
“A Jewish boy,  who used to serve the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him), fell sick. The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) went to visit him. He sat by his head and said to him: ‘Embrace Islam.’ The boy looked at his father, who was with him, and the father said: ‘Obey Abu al-Qāsim.’ So, the boy embraced Islam.  The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) came out saying: ‘All praise is due to Allah Who has saved him from Hellfire.’”

Behavior of the Prophet (PBUH) indicated in the Hadīth:
1.    His good manners with all people, even non-Muslims, as it is good manners to visit the sick.
2.    His visiting the sick person, even if he were a non-Muslim, if it was hoped to encourage him to embrace Islam.
3.    His making that visit personally instead of sending someone else on his behalf.
4.    His keenness to invite non-Muslims to Islam.
5.    His employing that non-Muslim boy as his servant.
6.    His inviting the Jewish boy to Islam.
7.    His gentleness and modesty as he sat by the head of the Jewish boy.
8.    His declaring the news of that boy’s embracing Islam.
9.    His rewarding that boy, who used to serve him, by inviting him to Islam.

Benefits:
1.    The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) was happy because that boy embraced Islam and was, consequently, saved by Allah from Hellfire.
2.    The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) would always praise and laud Allah at the occurrence of every blessing.
3.    The Jews knew that Islam is the true religion and that Muhammad is truly the Messenger of Allah, hence, the father said to his son: “Obey Abu al-Qāsim”.

45) The Prophet (PBUH) believing non-Muslims in what conforms with the truth:
Text of the Hadīth (Sahīh Al-Bukhāri 1372):  
‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) reported:
“A Jewish woman came to her and mentioned the torment of the grave saying: ‘May Allah protect you from the torment of the grave.’ ‘Ā’ishah then asked the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) about that and he said: ‘Yes, there is torment in the grave.’ ‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: ‘After that, I never saw the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) performing a prayer without seeking refuge with Allah from the torment of the grave.’”

Sahīh Muslim 1321:
‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) reported:
“There came to me two old women from the elderly Jews of Madinah. They told me that the dead are tormented in their graves. I did not believe them, and I did not want to believe them. They left, then the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) came. I said to him: ‘O Messenger of Allah, there came to me two old women from the elderly Jews of Madinah and they claimed that the dead are tormented in their graves.’ He said: ‘They spoke the truth. They (the dead) are tormented, and their torment can be heard by animals.’ She said: ‘After that, I never saw him performing a prayer without seeking refuge with Allah from the torment of the grave.”   

Sahīh Muslim 1319:
Ibn Shihāb reported that ‘Urwah ibn al-Zubayr told him that ‘Ā’ishah said:
“The Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) came to me while a Jewish woman was with me and she was saying: ‘Do you know that you all would be put to trial in the grave?’ The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) was terrified (on hearing this) and said: ‘It is the Jews who would be put to trial.’ Some nights later, the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: ‘Do you know that it was revealed to me that you all would be put to trial in the grave?’ I heard the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) afterwards seeking refuge with Allah from the torment of the grave.”

Behavior of the Prophet (PBUH) indicated in the Hadīth:
1.    His permitting the Jewish woman to enter his house for whatever request she had.
2.    His listening to ‘Ā’ishah’s inquiry about the torment of the grave mentioned by the two old Jewish women, and his answering her.
3.    His acknowledging the information conveyed by the two old Jewish women.

Benefits:
1.    His care to seeking refuge with Allah from the torment of the grave.
2.    Fear of the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) from the trial of the grave; that was clear in the words of ‘Ā’ishah, Mother of the Believers (may Allah be pleased with her): “The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be uopn him) was terrified.”
3.    The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) informed ‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) of the revelation he received concerning the torment of the grave.
4.    It was a constant practice of the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) to seek refuge with Allah in prayer from the torment of the grave.
5.    The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) informed us that only animals could hear the torment of people in the grave.
6.    Proving the existence of the torment of the grave and that it is true.
7.    The divine books have successively affirmed the torment of the grave, hence, the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) used to seek refuge with Allah therefrom.
8.    Accepting the information after verifying it, even if it were given by a non-Muslim.

46) The Prophet (PBUH) following up the implementation of Allah’s rulings even with the Jews:
Text of the Hadīth:  
Sahīh Al-Bukhāri 3635:
‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) reported: “The Jews came to the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) and informed him that a man and a woman from among them had committed unlawful sexual intercourse. The Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) asked them: ‘What do you find in the Torah about stoning?’ They said: ‘We disclose their sin and flog them.’ ‘Abdullah ibn Salām said: ‘You have lied! The verse of stoning is there (in the Torah).’ They fetched the Torah, spread it out and one of them placed his hand over the verse of stoning. He recited what was before it and what was after it. Thereupon, ‘Abdullah ibn Salām told him to lift his hand. He lifted his hand and there was the verse of stoning. They said: ‘He has spoken the truth, O Muhammad,’ (in reference to Ibn Salām). So the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) ordered that they be stoned.” ‘Abdullah added: “I saw the man leaning over the woman to protect her from the stones.”

Sahīh Muslim 4440:
Al-Barā’ ibn ‘Āzib reported:
“There passed by the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) a Jewish man whose face was blackened with soot and who was flogged. He (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) called them (the Jews) and said: ‘Is this the adulterer’s punishment that you find in your Book?’ They replied in the affirmative. He then called one of their scholars and said: ‘I adjure you by Allah Who sent down the Torah upon Mūsa (Moses), is that the adulterer’s punishment that you find in your Book?’ He replied: ‘No, and had you not adjured me by Allah, I would not have told you. The punishment for the adulterer that we find in our Book is stoning, but adultery has become prevalent among our nobles, so if we caught one of our nobles (committing adultery), we would let him go; but if we caught one of the weak among us, we would inflict the punishment on him. We decided to agree on something that we may impose on both the noble and the weak alike. So we agreed on blackening the face and flogging instead of stoning.’ The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: ‘O Allah, I am the first to revive Your command which they had nullified,’ and he ordered that he (the man) be stoned. Then, Allah Almighty revealed: {O Messenger, let them not grieve you who hasten into disbelief of those who say: “We believe” with their mouths, but their hearts do not believe.} until His saying: {They say: “If you are given this, take it; but if you are not given it, then beware”} Meaning: Go to Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him), and if he commands you with blackening the face with soot and flogging, then obey him, but if he commands you with stoning, then beware,’ so Allah Almighty revealed: {...And whoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed – then it is those who are the disbelievers.} {...And whoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed – then it is those who are the wrongdoers.}  {...And whoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed – then it is those who are the defiantly disobedient.} These verses were all revealed regarding the disbelievers.”   

Behavior of the Prophet (PBUH) indicated in the Hadīth:
1.    His detecting the Jews’ deception when he saw them blackening the adulterer’s face with soot and flogging him.
2.    His following up on the implementation of Allah’s rulings even with the Jews.
3.    His verifying the Jews’ claim.
4.    His verifying the Jews’ claim by asking the scholars among them.
5.    His insistence on knowing the truth and verifying the Jews’ claim by saying: “I adjure you by Allah Who...”
6.    His wisdom in addressing the Jews by asking them by Allah Who sent the Torah upon Moses.

Benefits:
1.    The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) addresses his Lord saying: “O Allah, I am the first to revive Your command which they had nullified.”
2.    The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) applied the rulings of Allah and inflicted His prescribed punishments on those who deserved it without showing favoritism to anyone.
3.    The divine Books agree on stoning as the prescribed punishment for the adulterer.

47) The Prophet (PBUH) opposing the Jews and glorifying the days of Allah:
Text of the Hadīth:  
Sahīh Muslim 2656:
Ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) reported:
“When the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) came to Madinah, he found the Jews fasting the day of ‘Āshūrā’ (10th of Muharram). When asked about that, they said: ‘That is the day when Allah granted Moses and the Children of Israel victory over the Pharaoh. We fast that day by way of glorification.’ Thereupon, the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: ‘We are closer to Moses than you,’ and he ordered that it should be fasted.”

Sahīh Muslim 2666:
‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) reported:
“When the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) fasted the day of ‘Āshūrā’ and ordered that it should be fasted, they said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, that is a day that the Jews and Christians glorify!’ He said: ‘Then next year, Allah Willing, we shall fast the ninth (of Muharram).’ However, the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) died before that.”

Behavior of the Prophet (PBUH) indicated in the Hadīth:
1.    His asking the Jews about the reason for their fasting that day, the tenth of Muharram.
2.    His telling the Jews that he is closer to Moses than them.
3.    His carefulness to avoid imitating the Jews.

Benefits:
1.    Good manners of the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) with his Almighty Lords as he confirmed the attribution of Will to Him (by saying, Allah Willing).
2.    Keenness of the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) to observe acts of obedience (to Allah) and hasten to them.

48) The Prophet (PBUH) emphasizing the Muslims’ power before the enemies to curb their greed:
Text of the Hadīth (Sahīh Al-Bukhāri 3152):  
Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) reported:
“‘Umar ibn al-Khattāb expelled the Jews and Christians from the land of Hijāz. When the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) conquered the land of Khaybar, he wanted to expel the Jews therefrom. After its conquest, the land belonged to the Jews, the Messenger, and the Muslims. The Jews asked the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) to leave them there on the condition that they would do the labor and get half of the fruits (the land would yield). The Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: ‘We shall keep you on these terms as long as we wish.’ Thus they stayed till the time of ‘Umar’s Caliphate when he expelled them to Taymā’ and Arīha. ”     

Behavior of the Prophet (PBUH) indicated in the Hadīth:
1.    His approving to let the Jews cultivate the land in exchange for half of its produce.
2.    His mercy towards his opponents, as he did not eradicate them for refusing to pay Jizyah (tax imposed on non-Muslims who live under the Muslim rule) or to embrace Islam, but they insisted on war. When he was granted victory over them, as a noble prophet, he treated them kindly.
3.    His emphasizing the Muslims’ power while dealing with the Jews, as he made it clear that the Muslims alone would have the upper hand in keeping this agreement.

49) Keenness of the Prophet (PBUH) to protect people’s rights even if they were non-Muslims:
Text of the Hadīth:  
Sahīh Al-Bukhāri 2127:
Jābir (may Allah be pleased with him) reported:
“(My father) ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr ibn Harām died leaving a debt behind. I asked the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) to intercede with his creditors to reduce his debt, and he did but they refused. So, the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said to me: ‘Go and sort your dates; the ‘Ajwah on one side and ‘Adhq Zayd  on another side, and when you are done, send for me.’ I did that, then the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) came and sat on top -or in the middle- of the heaps. Then he said: ‘Measure it out for people.’ So I measured it out for them until I paid them all off, and my dates were left as if nothing had been taken therefrom.” Firās narrated on the authority of Al-Sha‘bi from Jābir that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “He kept measuring for them until he paid all the debt off.” Hishām narrated on the authority of Wahb from Jābir that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Cut (clusters) for him (i.e. one of the creditors) and measure for him fully.”

Sahīh Al-Bukhāri 2709:
Jābir ibn ‘Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) reported:
“My father died leaving a debt behind. I offered his creditors the dates in lieu of his debt, but they refused as they thought that it would not cover the full debt. So, I went to the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) and told him about it. He said: ‘When you harvest the dates and collect them in the Mirbad tell me.’ The Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) came accompanied by Abu Bakr and ‘Umar and he sat on the harvest and invoked Allah to bless it. Then he said: ‘Call your creditors and give them their full rights.’ So, I paid all my father’s creditors in full and yet thirteen extra Wasqs (one Wasq is about 144 kg) of dates remained, seven of which were ‘Ajwah and six were Lawn  or six of which were ‘Ajwah and seven were Lawn. I met the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) at sunset and informed him about it. He laughed and said: ‘Go to Abu Bakr and ‘Umar and tell them about it.’ They said: ‘We knew that was going to happen when the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) did what he did.’”   

Sahīh Al-Bukhāri 5443:
Jābir ibn ‘Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) reported:
“There was a Jew in Madinah who used to lend me money  up to the season of harvesting dates - Jābir had a plot of land on the way to Rūmah.  That year, the land was not promising, so the payment of the debt was delayed one year. The Jew came to me at the time of harvesting, but I hadn't harvested anything from it. I asked him to give me one year respite, but he refused. This news reached the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) whereupon he said to his Companions: ‘Let us go and ask the Jew for respite for Jābir.’ All of them came to me in my orchard, and the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) started speaking to the Jew, but the Jew said: ‘O Abu al-Qāsim, I will not grant him respite.’ When the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) saw the Jew’s attitude, he got up and walked all around the orchard and came again and talked to the Jew, but the Jew refused his request. I got up and brought some fresh ripe dates and put them in front of the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him). He ate and then said to me: ‘Where is your ‘Arīsh, O Jābir?’ I told him, and he said: ‘Spread out something for me (to sleep) therein.’ I did, and he went in and slept. When he woke up, I brought him some more dates and he ate of it and then got up and talked to the Jew again, but the Jew again turned down his request. Then the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) got up for the second time and walked amidst the palm trees loaded with fresh dates, and said: ‘O Jābir, harvest the dates to repay your debt.’ The Jew remained with me while I was harvesting the dates, till I paid him his right in full, and there remained an extra quantity of dates. So I went to the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) and informed him of the good news, whereupon he said: ‘I bear witness that I am the Messenger of Allah.’”

Behavior of the Prophet (PBUH) indicated in the Hadīth:
1.    His keenness on protecting people’s rights even if they were non-Muslims.
2.    His treating people equally when it comes to debts; i.e. debts must be repaid whether the creditor is Muslim or non-Muslim.
3.    His hastening to intercede with creditors to reduce the debt, even if the creditor is non-Muslim.
4.    His refraining from forcing creditors to reduce the debts, even if they were non-Muslims.

Benefits:
1.    The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) resorted to his Lord through supplication as Allah Almighty is Near and Responsive.
2.    Blessing of the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him).
3.    The strong certitude of (Abu Bakr) Al-Siddīq and (‘Umar) Al-Fārūq (may Allah be pleased with both of them).
4.    The Prophet’s care about Abu Bakr and ‘Umar and his keenness to inform them of the new signs confirming his prophethood.

50) Justice of the Prophet (PBUH) in settling disputes even with non-Muslims:
Text of the Hadīth:  
Sahīh Al-Bukhāri 2356:
‘Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported:
“The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said:
‘Whoever swears a false oath  to seize a Muslim’s property unlawfully, he will meet Allah while He is angry with him.’ Allah Almighty then revealed: {Indeed, those who exchange the covenant of Allah and their [own] oaths for a small price will have no share in the Hereafter, and Allah will not speak to them or look at them on the Day of Judgment, nor will He purify them; and they will have a painful punishment.} Al-Ash‘ath came and said: ‘What Abu ‘Abdul-Rahman narrated to you, this verse was revealed about me. I had a well in the land of a cousin of mine (and we had a dispute about it). The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said to me: “Bring your witnesses.” I replied: “I have no witnesses.” Thereupon he said: “Then he should take an oath.” I said: “O Messenger of Allah, He will readily take an oath (a false one).” Then the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said this Hadīth and Allah revealed the verse to confirm what he had said.’”   

Sahīh Al-Bukhāri 2666:
‘Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported:
“The Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: ‘Whoever takes a false oath to deprive a Muslim of his property unlawfully, he will meet Allah while He is angry with him.’ Al-Ash‘ath ibn Qays said: ‘By Allah, this was about me. I shared some land with a Jewish man. When he denied me my right, I complained against him to the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) who said to me: “Do you have any proof?” I said: “No.” So he said to the Jew: “Swear an oath.” I said: “O Messenger of Allah, he will swear an oath and seize my property.” So, Allah Almighty revealed: {Indeed, those who exchange the covenant of Allah and their [own] oaths for a small price will have no share in the Hereafter, and Allah will not speak to them or look at them on the Day of Judgment, nor will He purify them; and they will have a painful punishment.}  Until the end of the verse.’”

Behavior of the Prophet (PBUH) indicated in the Hadīth:
1.    His justice in settling disputes, even with non-Muslims, as clear in his verdict in this Hadīth.
2.    His acceptance of the oath taken by non-Muslims, as he asked the Jewish man to swear an oath.

Benefits:
1.    The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) emphasized the fact that fear of Allah is one of the greatest methods to raise the Ummah and warn them against usurping others’ rights.
2.    When settling a dispute, the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) started by asking the claimant if he had a proof supporting his claim.
3.    Judgments are based on what is apparent even if the one in whose favor the judgment is made is a liar.
4.    The ruler’s verdict does not make it permissible for one to have what was not lawful for him from the beginning.
5.    Mentioning the “Muslim” in particular here does not indicate that the right of the Dhimmi is not inviolable, rather it is inviolable as well but does not necessarily entail that grave punishment.
6.    Warning against unlawful gains.

51) The anger of the Prophet (PBUH) when a Jewish man was wronged:
Text of the Hadīth (Sahīh Al-Bukhāri 3414):  
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported:
“Once while a Jew was selling his merchandise, he was offered a price that did not please him. So, he said: ‘No, by Him Who gave Moses superiority over mankind!’ Hearing him, a man from the Ansār got up and slapped him on the face and said: ‘You say: “By Him Who Gave Moses superiority over mankind while the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) is present among us!’ The Jew went to the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) and said: ‘O Abu al-Qāsim, I am under the assurance and contract of security, so what right does so-and-so have to slap me on the face?’ The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) asked the other: ‘Why did you slap him on the face?’ He told him the whole story. The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) was so angry that it showed on his face, and he said: ‘Do not give preference to any prophet among the prophets of Allah, for when the trumpet will be blown, everyone on the earth and in the heavens will become unconscious except those whom Allah will exempt. The trumpet will be blown for the second time and I will be the first to be resurrected, only to see Moses holding on to the Throne. I do not know whether the unconsciousness which Moses received has been counted for him –the one he received on the Day of Tūr– or he was resurrected before me.’”

Behavior of the Prophet (PBUH) indicated in the Hadīth:
1.    His justice and fairness in settling disputes between Muslims and disbelievers.
2.    His listening to the Jew’s complaint against one of the Muslims.
3.    His summoning the Muslim, against whom the Jew made a complaint, and asking him about the Jew’s claim. It is one of the distinct features of this great religion; Islam.
4.    His informing people of the privilege of Moses (peace be upon him).
5.    His anger on knowing that the Muslim slapped the Jewish man without right.

Benefits:
1.    The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) did not approve of the preference given to himself over Moses (peace be upon him), although our Prophet Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) is absolutely the best of all prophets.
2.    The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) did not get angry for himself, rather he used to get angry when any of the boundaries of Allah was violated.
3.    The anger of the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) did not exceed the limit of showing on his face, however, when any of the boundaries of Allah was violated, he would take revenge in the name of Allah Almighty.
4.    The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) preached people and reminded them of the Last Day.
5.    Decency of the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) with other prophets (peace be upon them).
6.    Despite his being a prophet, he (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) did not transcend the limit of the knowledge that Allah granted him, hence, he said “I do not know”, which indicates his good manners with his Lord.

52) Retribution of the Prophet (PBUH) against the Jew who killed a girl:
Text of the Hadīth (Sahīh Al-Bukhāri 5295):  
Anas ibn Mālik (may Allah be pleased with him) reported:
“During the lifetime of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him), a Jewish man attacked a girl and took some silver ornaments she was wearing then crushed her head. Her relatives brought her to the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) while she was breathing her last, and she was unable to speak. The Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) asked her: ‘Who killed you, so-and-so?’ - mentioning somebody other than her murderer. She shook her head, meaning that it was not him. The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) mentioned another person other than the murderer, and she again shook her head. Then he asked: ‘Was it so-and-so?’- mentioning the name of her killer. She nodded in agreement. Then the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) ordered that the murderer’s head be crushed between two stones.”

Sahīh Al-Bukhāri 2413:
Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported:
“A Jewish man crushed the head of a girl between two stones. The girl was asked who had done that to her and some names were mentioned to her, and when the name of the Jewish man was mentioned, she nodded in agreement. The Jew was brought and he confessed, so, the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) ordered that his head be crushed between two stones.”

Behavior of the Prophet (PBUH) indicated in the Hadīth:
1.    His seeking to verify the identity of the Jewish perpetrator by repeating the question.
2.    His command to exact immediate retribution against the Jewish perpetrator.
3.    His inflicting the prescribed punishments on Muslims and non-Muslims alike.
4.    His punishing the Jewish criminal with the like of what he committed.

Benefits:
1.    The Jews’ malice and meanness and their taking bloodshed lightly.
2.    When the worldly life takes control of one’s heart, in the absence of faith, it makes one blind and prompts him into reckless behavior.

53) The Prophet (PBUH) pawning his armor with a Jew:
Text of the Hadīth (Sahīh Al-Bukhāri 2069) Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: “I went to the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) with barley  bread and rancid Ihālah. The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) had pawned his armor with a Jew in Madinah in return for some barley for his family. I heard him say: ‘The household of Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) did not possess a single Sā‘ (measure) of wheat or grains while he had nine wives to look after.’”

Behavior of the Prophet (PBUH) indicated in the Hadīth:
1.    His dealing with non-Muslims in trade and mortgage and his accepting their invitations.
2.    His preserving the rights of people, even if they were non-Muslims.

Benefits:
1.    Asceticism of the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) in life and how satisfied he was with the slightest portion thereof, despite his ability to attain more of it.
2.    The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) used to buy his needs himself, even though he had someone to do that on his behalf. He used to do that to be a role model for his Ummah and as a sign of humility before his Lord.
3.    The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) used to utilize the available means. Wearing armor does not contradict reliance on Allah, for the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) was the best one to rely on his Lord, yet he had an armor.
4.    Permissibility of dealing with the disbelievers in what has not been proved to be unlawful, and this permissibility is not affected by the corruption of their beliefs and their transactions with each other.  

54) The Prophet (PBUH) putting soothsayers to the test to expose their fraudulence:
Text of the Hadīth (Sahīh Al-Bukhāri 3055):  
Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) reported:
“Umar went with the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) with a group of his Companions to see Ibn Sayyād (who claimed prophethood). They found him playing with some children in the ’Utum of Banu Maghālah. Ibn Sayyād, who was reaching puberty, did not notice them until the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) patted him on the back then said to him: ‘Do you bear witness that I am the Messenger of Allah?’ Ibn Sayyād looked at him and said: ‘I bear witness that you are the Messenger of the unlettered,’ then added: ‘Do you testify that I am the messenger of Allah?’ The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: ‘I believe in Allah and His Messengers.’ Then he said to him: ‘What do you see?’ Ibn Sayyād replied: ‘Both the truthful and liars come to me.’ The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: ‘You are in a state of confusion.’ Then the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said to him: ‘I am concealing something from you.’ Ibn Sayyād said: ‘It is the Dhukhkh.’ The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: ‘Be ye despised! You can never cross your limit.’ ‘Umar said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, let me strike his neck.’ The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: ‘If it is him (the Antichrist), you will not be able to conquer him, and if it is not him, then you will gain nothing by killing him.’’’   

Sahīh Al-Bukhāri 1354:
Al-Zuhri reported:
“Sālim ibn ‘Abdullah informed me that Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) told him that ‘Umar went with the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) with a group to see Ibn Sayyād. They found him playing with children at a fort-like building of Banu Maghālah. Ibn Sayyād, who was about to reach puberty, did not notice them until the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) stroke him with his hand and said: ‘Do you bear witness that I am the Messenger of Allah?’ Ibn Sayyād looked at him and said: ‘I bear witness that you are the messenger of the unlettered,’ then he added: ‘Do you testify that I am the messenger of Allah?’ The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) denied that and said: ‘I believe in Allah and in His messengers,’ then he asked him: ‘What do you see?’ He replied: ‘Both the truthful and the liar come to me.’ Thereupon, the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: ‘You are in a state of confusion,’ then added: ‘I am concealing something from you.’ Ibn Sayyād said: ‘It is the Dhukhkh.’ The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: ‘Be ye despised! You can never cross your limit.’ ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) then said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, let me strike his neck.’ The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: ‘If it is him (the Antichrist), you will not be able to conquer him, and if it is not him, you will gain nothing by killing him.’”

Sahīh Al-Bukhāri 2638:
Al-Zuhri reported:
“Sālim said that he heard ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) say: ‘One day, the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) went with Ubayy ibn Ka‘b al-Ansāri to the palm grove where Ibn Sayyād was. Upon entering it, the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) started hiding behind the date palms in the hope of hearing Ibn Sayyād talking before the latter saw him. Ibn Sayyād, wrapped with a soft decorated sheet, was lying on his bed murmuring. When his mother saw the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) hiding behind the date palms, she said to Ibn Sayyād saying: “O Sāf, here is Muhammad.” Hearing that, Ibn Sayyād stopped murmuring (or became cautious). The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “If she had left him undisturbed, he would have revealed his reality.’”   

Behavior of the Prophet (PBUH) indicated in the Hadīth:
1.    His keenness to call non-Muslims to Islam.
2.    His going in person to non-Muslims, inviting them to Islam and holding conversations with them.
3.    His listening to questions posed by the obstinate ones and giving them the truthful answer.
4.    His putting soothsayers to the test to expose their deception to his Companions so that those who were not yet firm in Islam would not be confused by their deceit.
5.    His wisdom and foresight that were clear in his refusal of ‘Umar’s request to kill Ibn Sayyād.
6.    His keenness to verify the condition of Ibn Sayyād and find out the truth about him.
7-    His inviting non-Muslim boys to embrace Islam.

Benefits:
1.    The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) was careful to verify and explore issues that were feared to lead to corruption.
2.    Exposing the liar’s falsehood and putting him to the test to reveal the truth about him.
3.    The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) stated that Ibn Sayyād would not exceed his limit.
4.    The Jews, to whom Ibn Sayyād belonged, acknowledged the mission of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) but claimed that he was sent to the Arabs only.

55) Respect of the Prophet (PBUH) for funerals, even if the deceased were a non-Muslim:
Text of the Hadīth:  
Sahīh Al-Bukhāri 1311:
Jābir ibn ‘Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) reported: “A funeral procession passed in front of us and the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) stood up so we too stood up.  We said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, this is the funeral procession of a Jew.’ He said: ‘If you see a funeral procession, stand up.’”

Sahīh Al-Bukhāri 1312:
‘Amr ibn Murrah reported:
“I heard ‘Abdul-Rahman ibn Abi Layla say:
‘Sahl ibn Hunayf and Qays ibn Sa‘d were sitting in the city of Al-Qādisiyyah. A funeral procession passed in front of them and they stood up. They were told that the funeral procession was for a Dhimmi (non-Muslim living under Muslim protection). They said: “A funeral procession passed in front of the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) and he stood up. When he was told that it was the funeral of a Jew, he said: ‘Is it not a soul?’”

Behavior of the Prophet (PBUH) indicated in the Hadīth:
1.    His standing up when a funeral procession passed by him, even if it were the funeral of a non-Muslim.

Benefits:
1.    Disbelief does not affect the solemnity of death.
2.    The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) showed due reverence to death and dread of it, whether the deceased was a Muslim or a disbeliever.
3.    The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) were very keen to follow their Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) and act upon his Sunnah.

56) Forbearance of the Prophet (PBUH) even with the Jews who attempted to kill him:
Text of the Hadīth (Sahīh Al-Bukhāri 3169):  
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported:
“After the conquest of Khaybar, a poisoned sheep was given to the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) as a gift. The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: ‘Gather for me all the Jews who were here before.’ They were gathered for him and he said to them: ‘I shall ask you about something, will you tell the truth?’ They said: ‘Yes.’ He said: ‘Who is your father?’ They said: ‘So-and-so.’ He said: ‘You have lied, your father is so-and-so.’ They said: ‘You are right.’ He, then, said: ‘Will you tell the truth if I ask you about something?’ They said: ‘Yes, O Abu al-Qāsim, and if we lie, you will know just as you did when we lied about our father.’ Thereupon, he said: ‘Who are the dwellers of Hellfire?’ They said: ‘We shall stay therein for a short while then you (Muslims) will replace us there.’ The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: ‘May you remain disgraced therein! By Allah, we shall never replace you there.’ He, then, added: ‘Will you tell the truth if I ask you about something?’ They replied: ‘O Abu al-Qāsim, yes, we will.’ He said: ‘Did you put poison in that sheep?’ They said: ‘Yes.’ He said: ‘What made you do that?’ They said: ‘If you were a liar, we would get rid of you, and if you were a prophet, it would not harm you.’”

Behavior of the Prophet (PBUH) indicated in the Hadīth:
1.    His gathering of those who were non-Muslims to address them exclusively.
2.    His conversation with the Jews which exposed their lying and deceit and their attempt to kill the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him).
3.    His telling the Jews that he would ask them about something and they should tell the truth in answering him.
4.    His forbearance even with the Jews who attempted to kill him.
5.    His patience in listening to the Jews’ replies despite their manifest lies.
6.    His patience in listening to their provocative speech.

Benefits:
1.    The Jews are habitual liars and deceivers even with the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him), the most noble of all people.
2.    The Jews’ daring to hurt the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) and lie to him.
3.    Veracity of his message and that he is a Prophet receiving divine revelation.

57) Patience and tolerance of the Prophet (PBUH) in answering the Jews’ questions:
Text of the Hadīth (Sahīh Muslim 716):  
Zayd ibn Sallām reported that he heard Abu Sallām say that Abu Asmā’ al-Rahbi related to him that Thawbān, the freed slave of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him), said to him: “While I was standing near the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him), a Jewish rabbi came and said: ‘Peace be upon you, O Muhammad.’ I gave him a strong push that he was about to fall. Upon this he said: ‘Why do you push me?’ I said: ‘Why do you not say: “O Messenger of Allah”?’ The Jew said: ‘We call him by the name which his family gave him.’ Thereupon, the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: ‘The name my family gave me is Muhammad.’ The Jew said: ‘I came to ask you.’ The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: ‘Would that be of any benefit to you if I told you?’ He said: ‘I would listen.’ The Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) then drew a line on the ground with a stick he had and said: ‘Ask.’ The Jew said: ‘Where would people be on the day when the earth would change into another earth and the heavens too?’ The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: ‘They would be in the darkness before the Bridge.’ The Jew said: ‘Who would be the first among people to cross?’ The Prophet said: ‘The poor among the Muhājirūn (emigrants).’ The Jew said: ‘What would be their treat when they enter Paradise?’ The Prophet said: ‘The caudate lobe of the fish liver.’ The Jew said: ‘And what would they eat afterwards?’ The Prophet replied: ‘The bull of Paradise which used to graze at its edges will be slaughtered for them.’ The Jew said: ‘What would their drink be?’ The Prophet said: ‘From a spring therein called Salsabīl.’ The Jew said: ‘You said the truth,’ and added: ‘I came to ask you about something which none of the inhabitants of earth know about except a prophet or a man or two besides him.’ The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: ‘Would that be of any benefit to you if I told you?’ The Jew said: ‘I would listen’, and added: ‘I came to ask you about the child.’ The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: ‘A man’s water (semen) is white while that of a woman is yellow. When they meet and the man’s water precedes that of the woman, they get a male child by the permission of Allah. If the woman’s water precedes that of the man, they get a female child by the permission of Allah.’ The Jew said: ‘You said the truth, and you are indeed a prophet,’ and then he left. The Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: ‘He asked me about such things that I knew nothing about until Allah informed me thereof.’”

Behavior of the Prophet (PBUH) indicated in the Hadīth:
1.    His receiving a Jewish rabbi and listening to his questions.
2.    His modesty and acceptance of the Jews calling him by the name Muhammad only without “Messenger of Allah” in the hope that they would embrace Islam.
3.    His keenness on having others attain benefit from his speech as he repeated “would that be of any benefit to you if I told you” more than once.
4.    His patience, tolerance, and his hope to bring benefit although the Jew said that he would only listen.

Benefits:
1.    Good manners of the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) with his Almighty Lord as he stated that he knew nothing about these questions until Allah Almighty taught him.
2.    Allah Almighty honored His Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) by informing him of the answers instantly.
3.    Taking the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) as a role model, Muslim preachers need to be patient, tolerant, modest, and lenient with those whom they preach.

58) The Prophet’s (PBUH) participation in conquering Khaybar:
Text of the Hadīth (Sahīh Al-Bukhāri 371):  
Anas ibn Mālik (may Allah be pleased with him) reported:
“The Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) invaded Khaybar and we prayed Ghadāh  there (early in the morning) when it was still dark. Then the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) rode his mount and Abu Talhah rode his, and I was riding behind Abu Talhah. The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) passed through the Zuqāq of Khaybar quickly, and my knee was touching the thigh of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him). His lower garment revealed his thigh and I could see its whiteness. When he entered the village he said: ‘Allah is the Most Great, Khaybar is conquered! Whenever we approach a people to fight {But when it descends in their territory, then the morning of those who were warned will be terrible.} ’ He said it thrice. People came out for their work and said: ‘That is Muhammad!’ - ‘Abdul-‘Azīz (one of the narrators) said: Some of our companions said: ‘with his army’. We conquered Khaybar and the captives were gathered. Dihyah al-Kalbi (may Allah be pleased with him) came and said: ‘O Prophet of Allah, give me a slave girl from the captives.’ He said: ‘Go and take a slave girl.’ He took Safiyyah bint Huyayy. Then a man came to the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) and said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, you gave Dihyah Safiyyah bint Huyayy, and she is the most honored lady in Qurayzhah and Banu al-Nadīr, and she is fit for no one but you.’ The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: ‘Call him to bring her.’ When the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) looked at her, he said: ‘Take any other slave girl from the captives.’ The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) then set her free and married her. Thābit asked him: O Abu Hamzah, what dowry did he give her? He replied: Her freedom; he set her free and married her. On the way, Umm Sulaym prepared her for him and sent her to him at night. The following morning, the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) was a bridegroom. He said: ‘Whoever has anything (to eat), let him bring it.’ He spread out a Nita’ and men came with dates and ghee -One of the narrators said; I think he mentioned flour too- and they made Hays,  and that was the wedding feast of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him).”

Sahīh Al-Bukhāri 610:
Anas ibn Mālik reported:
“Whenever the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) set out with us to invade a people, he never allowed us to attack till morning and he would wait and see: if he heard Adhān (call to prayer), he would abort the attack, and if he did not hear Adhān, he would attack them. We reached Khaybar at night, and in the morning when he did not hear the Adhān for the prayer, he rode his mount and I rode behind Abu Talhah and my foot was touching that of the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him). The people of Khaybar came out with their baskets and spades and when they saw the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) they shouted: ‘Muhammad! By Allah, Muhammad and his army!’ When the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) saw them, he said: ‘Allah is the Most Great, Allah is the Most Great, Khaybar is conquered! Whenever we approach a (hostile) nation (to fight) {But when it descends in their territory, the morning of those who were warned will be terrible.} ’”

Sahīh Al-Bukhāri 2893:
Anas ibn Mālik (may Allah be pleased with him) reported:
“The Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) performed Fajr prayer (early in the morning) when it was still dark, then he rode his mount and said: ‘Allah is the Most Great, Khaybar is conquered! When we approach a nation, {the morning of those who were warned will be terrible}.’ The people came out into the streets saying: ‘Muhammad and his army!’ The Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) triumphed over them and their warriors were killed; the children and women were taken as captives. Safiyyah was taken by Dihyah al-Kalbi and later she belonged to the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) who married her and gave her her freedom as her dowry.” ‘Abdul-‘Azīz said to Thābit: O Abu Muhammad, you asked Anas: What dowry did he give her? He said: Her freedom was her dowry, so he smiled.”

Behavior of the Prophet (PBUH) indicated in the Hadīth:
1.    His participation in invading the Jews of Khaybar with his Companions.
2.    His waiting to hear the Adhān, which indicates that he did not seek or wish for the fight.
3.    His refraining from invasion if he heard the Adhān.
4.    He fought the men only in his battles with the polytheists, whereas women and children are taken captives.

Benefits:
1.    The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) glorified his Almighty Lord as he said: “Allah is the Most Great.” several times on seeing the Jews coming out with their baskets.
2.    The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) and his Companions, each shared in this wedding feast with what he had. Some shared with dates, others with ghee, and others with flour.

59) Silence of the Prophet (PBUH) when asked by the Jew about something that only Allah knows:
Text of the Hadīth (Sahīh Muslim 7059):  
‘Abdullah reported:
“While I was walking with the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) in a field, and he was leaning on a ‘Asīb, he passed by a group of Jews. They said to one another: ‘Ask him about the soul.’ They said: ‘Why do you want to ask him about it? He may give an answer that you dislike.’ They said: ‘Ask him.’ So one of them got up and asked him about the soul. The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) remained silent and did not give any answer, and I knew that revelation was coming to him. I stayed where I was, and when the revelation ended, he said: {They ask you about “the soul”. Say: “The soul is part of the domain of my Lord, and you have been given only a little knowledge.”}”

Behavior of the Prophet (PBUH) indicated in the Hadīth:
1.    His listening to the Jews’ questions.
2.    His remaining silent and giving no answer to the Jew after posing his question.
3.    His answering the question after receiving the revelation.
4.    His patience and tolerance with the Jews’ obstinacy that was evident in their question.

Benefits:
1.    Good manners of the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) with his Lord as he remained silent and did not answer the Jews.
2.    Allah Almighty honored His Prophet Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) by sending revelation to him.

60) The Prophet (PBUH) listening to a Jewish rabbi describing Allah as reported in the Torah:
Text of the Hadīth (Sahīh Al-Bukhāri 4811):  
‘Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported:
“A Jewish rabbi came to the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) and said: ‘O Muhammad, we learned that Allah will place the heavens on one finger, and the earths on one finger, and the trees on one finger, and the water and dust on one finger, and all the creatures on one finger. Then, He will say: “I am the King.”’ On hearing that, the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) smiled until his premolar teeth were visible in confirmation of the rabbi’s words. Then, the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) recited: {They did not recognize the true worth of Allah. (Such is Allah’s power that) on the Day of Resurrection the whole earth will be in His grasp, and the heavens shall be folded up in His Right Hand. Glory be to Him! Exalted be He from all that they associate with Him.}”   

Behavior of the Prophet (PBUH) indicated in the Hadīth:
1.    His receiving those who came to him whether they were Muslims or disbelievers.
2.    His listening to the Jews’ questions and inquiries.
3.    His modesty as he answered that Jew who called him by his honorable name, Muhammad.
4.    His smiling in confirmation of the veracity of the rabbi’s words.
5.    His mentioning Qur’anic verses as evidence that the Jews failed to recognize the real worth of Allah Almighty.

Benefits:
1.    All divine Books confirm each other, acknowledge monotheism, and agree on ascribing perfection to Allah Almighty.
2.    The Jews knew that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) came with the truth, but they insisted on their obstinacy and arrogance.

61) The Prophet (PBUH) listening to a Jewish rabbi stating facts about the Day of Judgment:
Text of the Hadīth (Sahīh Al-Bukhāri 6520)  
Abu Sa‘īd al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) reported:
“The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said:
‘On the Day of Judgment, earth will be turned into a single loaf of bread that the Almighty will turn with His Hand as one of you turns his loaf of bread (while baking it) on a journey. It will be a feast arranged in honor of the people of Paradise.’ A man from the Jews came and said: ‘May the Most Compassionate bless you, O Abu al-Qāsim. Would you like me to tell you about the feast arranged in honor of the people of Paradise on the Day of Judgment?’ He said: ‘Yes.’ The Jew said: ‘The earth will turn into a single bread loaf’, as the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) has just said. Thereupon, the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) looked at us and smiled until his premolar teeth became visible. The Jew then said: ‘Would you like me to tell you about what they will eat with the bread?’ He added: ‘They will eat Bālām and Nūn’ They asked: ‘What are these?’ He replied: ‘Ox and fish; seventy thousand will eat of the caudate lobe of their livers.’”

Behavior of the Prophet (PBUH) indicated in the Hadīth:
1.    His receiving those who came to him whether they were Muslims or disbelievers.
2.    His listening to the Jew who wanted to tell him about the welcoming meal of the people of Paradise and then about what they will eat with the bread.
3.    His smiling and his delight when the report of the People of the Book agreed with what he informed his Companions of.
4.    His modesty as he listened to that Jew saying what he already knew.

Benefits:
1.    Knowledge seekers and Muslim preachers must not be too proud to accept good things and beneficial knowledge.

62) Patience of the Prophet (PBUH) with the Jews’ abuse and their use of magic against him:
Text of the Hadīth (Sahīh Al-Bukhāri 5765):  
‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) reported:
“The Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) was bewitched, to the extent that he used to imagine that he had sexual intercourse with his wives while he did not - Sufyān said: That is the strongest kind of magic since it has such an effect. Then one day he said: ‘O ‘Ā’ishah, do you know that Allah has instructed me concerning the matter I asked Him about? Two men came to me and one of them sat near my head and the other sat near my feet. The one near my head asked the other: “What is wrong with this man?” The latter replied: “He is under the effect of magic.” The first one asked: “Who worked magic on him?” The other replied: “Labīd ibn A‘sam, a man from Banu Zurayq who was an ally of the Jews and a hypocrite.” The first one asked: “What material did he use?” The other replied: “A comb and the hair stuck to it.” The first one asked: “Where (is that)?” The other replied: “In a skin of pollen of a male date palm tree kept under a stone in the well of Dharwān.”’ So the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) went to that well and took out those things and said: ‘That is the well which was shown to me (in a dream). Its water looked like the infusion of Henna leaves and its date palm trees looked like the heads of devils.’ The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) added: ‘Then that thing was taken out.’ I said to him: ‘Why do you not treat yourself - with Nashrah (undoing a spell by means of Ruqyah)?’ He said: ‘Allah has cured me; I dislike to let evil spread among people.’”

Behavior of the Prophet (PBUH) indicated in the Hadīth:
1.    His wise handling of the situation wherein he found himself bewitched by the Jews.
2.    His tolerance of the Jews’ abuse.
3.    His refraining from avenging himself on the Jews when they were so keen on harming him with magic.

Benefits:
1.    Allah Almighty honored His Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) as He sent him two men to inform him of the place where the spell was hidden.
2.    The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) resorted to Allah Almighty through supplication and through imploring Him.
3.    The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) did not seek undoing the magic through the traditional tangible methods, i.e. the Nashrah, rather, he resorted to Allah to cure him, which indicates perfect Tawhīd (belief in the Oneness of Allah).
4.    The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) repeated the supplication three times.
5.    The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) utilized the available means by seeking a cure for his illness.
6.    The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) fulfilled Tawhīd by attributing his recovery and well-being to Allah Almighty.
7.    The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) made it clear to his Ummah that he was a human being like any other (prone to illness and harm) without that undermining his mission to convey the divine message.
8.    Allah Almighty honored His Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him).
9.    The wickedness and cunning of the Jews, and their intense harm to the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him).
10.    The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) gave precedence to the welfare of Islam over his own personal welfare.
11.    Allah Almighty protected His messages, for despite the Jews’ intrigues against His Messenger (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him), they failed to come anywhere near the divine message.

63) The Prophet (PBUH) seeing through the Jews’ deception:
Text of the Hadīth (Sahīh Al-Bukhāri 6030):  
‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) reported:
“Some Jews came to the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) and said: ‘As-Sāmu (death) be upon you.’ ‘Ā’ishah said: ‘May it be upon you, and may Allah curse you and send His wrath on you.’ The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: ‘O ‘Ā’ishah, be gentle and beware of violence and bad words.’ She said: ‘Have you not heard what they said?’ He said: ‘Have you not heard what I said? I returned it (their evil greeting) to them, and my supplication against them will be answered while their supplication against me will not be answered.’”

Behavior of the Prophet (PBUH) indicated in the Hadīth:
1.    His receiving whoever came to him, even if they were non-Muslims.
2.    His listening to what they claimed to be a greeting of peace, and his response to that briefly and adequately in a way that befitted them.
3.    His gentleness with everyone he dealt with even if he were a Jew.
4.    His tolerance and patience with the Jews’ abuse.

Benefits:
1.    Wickedness and impudence of the Jews in dealing with someone whom they knew was a prophet.
2.    Muslim preachers need to be patient, tolerant, and shrewd.

64) The Prophet (PBUH) sacrificing money to attract the Jews to Islam and to avoid civil war:
Text of the Hadīth (Sahīh Al-Bukhāri 7192):  
Sahl ibn Abu Hathmah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated on the authority of some of the elders of his people that: “‘Abdullah ibn Sahl and Muhayyisah set out for Khaybar because of some hardship  they were undergoing. Muhayyisah was informed that ‘Abdullah was killed and thrown into some Faqīr  or well. He went to the Jews and said to them: ‘By Allah, you killed him.’ They replied: ‘By Allah, we did not kill him.’ He went back to his people and informed them of what had happened. Then he, along with his brother Huwayyisah, who was older than him, and ‘Abdul-Rahmān ibn Sahl, went to the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him). Being the one who was at Khaybar, Muhayyisah began to speak, but the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: ‘Let the elder speak first.’ So, Huwayyisah spoke first followed by Muhayyisah. The Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: ‘They either pay the blood money of your companion, or war will be declared on them.’ The Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) wrote them (the Jews) a message to that effect and they wrote back saying: ‘We did not kill him.’ Thereupon, the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said to Huwayyisah, Muhayyisah, and ‘Abdul-Rahmān: ‘Would you take an oath to be entitled to your companion’s blood money?’ They said: ‘No.’ He, then, said: ‘Should the Jews swear an oath for you?’ They said: ‘They are not Muslims.’ So, the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) paid the blood money himself, and he sent one hundred she-camels to them and some of them entered the house. Sahl said: ‘One of those she-camels kicked me.’”

Behavior of the Prophet (PBUH) indicated in the Hadīth:
1.    His receiving a group of the Jews and listening to their complaint.
2.    His sacrificing money in the hope of attracting the Jews to Islam, and it was said that he paid the blood money himself to console the dead man’s family, and both reasons are possible.
3.    His total justice in settling disputes between litigants, who were Muslims and Jews.

Benefits:
1.    The permissibility of Qasāmah (collective oath).
2.    Giving precedence to the elder in speaking.
3.    Offering the family of the murdered person relief and consolation.  

65) The Prophet (PBUH) ordering Thābit to learn the language of the Jews:
Text of the Hadīth (Sahīh Al-Bukhāri 7195):  
Zayd ibn Thābit (may Allah be pleased with him) reported:
“The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) ordered me to learn the Jews’ writing. I even wrote for the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) his letters  and also read for him  their letters when they wrote to him. ‘Umar said, in the presence of ‘Ali, ‘Abdul-Rahmān, and ‘Uthmān: ‘What is this (woman) saying?’ ‘Abdul-Rahmān ibn Hātib said:  ‘She is informing you about her companion  who did that with her.’ And Abu Jamrah said: ‘I was an interpreter between Ibn ‘Abbās and the people.’ Some people said: ‘The ruler must have two interpreters.’”

Behavior of the Prophet (PBUH) indicated in the Hadīth:
1.    His command to learn the language of the Jews.
2.    His command to learn this language was for the purpose of having Muslims who could write messages on his behalf to the Jews and read their messages to him.
2-    His concern for learning the language of non-Muslims to use it in calling them to Allah.

Benefits:
1. Learning this language is not perfected except by excelling in translation until one could translate in reading and writing, as happened with Zayd.
2. The purpose for learning the Jews’ language was not to learn from them; rather, it was to convey the message of Islam to them and inform them beyond the excuse of ignorance.